Taipei: Taiwan ’s coast guard has detained a cargo ship suspected of damaging an undersea internet cable near Penghu Islands.
The ship, named “Hong Tai,” was flagged under Togo but funded by Chinese investors, Taiwan’s coast guard confirmed.
It carried a crew of eight Chinese nationals and was found near the disconnected cable without responding to broadcasts.
Taiwan’s telecom company detected the disconnection just after the vessel dropped anchor on Tuesday morning.
Authorities boarded the ship and escorted it to Tainan’s port for further investigation into the incident.
Possible Sabotage
Investigators are determining if the cable was cut intentionally or due to an accident.
Officials have not ruled out a Chinese “gray zone operation” involving covert disruption tactics.
These operations aim to pressure Taiwan without crossing into direct military conflict.
Taiwanese prosecutors are handling the case under national security-level guidance.
Authorities remain cautious given past incidents of undersea cable damage near Taiwan.
Suspicious Pattern
Several telecom cables around Taiwan have suffered unexplained damage in recent years.
In January, officials suspected a Chinese-linked vessel of cutting an undersea cable near northern Taiwan.
In 2023, two cables connecting Taiwan’s main island to Matsu were also damaged.
The incidents led to internet blackouts and raised security concerns among Taiwanese officials.
Authorities stopped short of calling those acts deliberate but remained highly suspicious.
Global Concerns
Undersea infrastructure has faced increasing threats worldwide, including in the Baltic Sea.
Investigations into Chinese ships linked to these incidents are still ongoing.
NATO chief Mark Rutte highlighted the global risk of disruptions to vital undersea cables.
Over 95% of internet traffic depends on these cables, supporting $10 trillion in daily trade.
Damage to such infrastructure can severely impact communication and economic stability.
Beijing Tensions
These events unfold amid growing pressure from Beijing against Taiwan’s self-governance.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and has vowed to take control, even by force.
Taiwanese officials fear further “gray zone” activities targeting critical infrastructure.
Disrupting internet and communication lines could weaken Taiwan’s defenses and economy.
Authorities remain vigilant as they investigate this latest cable-cutting incident.
